Some are saying $95 retail is high. Not around here it seems -- I picked up mine for $130 and under shady circumstances. I've done this TWICE with this dealer and I'll never do it again
Both times the guns were wrapped up in wax paper, greased up, and signed "DO NOT REMOVE PAPER!" So, you've got to blindly purchase the gun but they assure you they're unissued surplus rifles. So far, it looks like they're right but for $130 I'd at least like to look at the furniture and the bore, etc. I think it's a gimmick, but I know better now.
I'm still not ticked at the price either. For what I've got $130 is certainly a fair trade.
With the pricing stuff aside, MN's are the #1 reason I want to get a C&R. Maybe I'll turn in the paperwork this weekend.
They are FUN, and they are CHEAP, and they are SOLID! Cheap to feed too which I find really odd as 7.x62x54 isn't exactly a poodle round.
I've ordered up all the parts to put a pistol scope on the thing (4x) with Darrel's "Scout" Scope mount that doesn't require any permanent changes to the rifle. I'm friggen geeked about it. So far it's been pretty accurate and puts 'em where I want 'em. My eyesight is horrid though so I'm hoping w/ the scope I'll finally be able to find out what she's really capable of.
The m44 I got actually looks good. The wood's not beat to crap on it. A little bit of scraping here and there but over the summer I might refinish it. My mother worked for years on furniture and knows how to strip/refinish wood quite well. Might be fun to get her in on my gun-nut thing
If things go right I'll be taking it black bear hunting at the end of the year. Yes, I will look odd with a Russian caliber weapon, with wood stocks, and bayonet, and a pistol scope attached to it... but I'll be using something that's about 1/3rd of everybody else's equipment in cost. It should be "good enough" too.
I want to get my C&R and buy 3-5 more of them, preferabbly in the full length versions, then find the best shooter and turn that into my 'Bear Gun'. Failing that we'll just see how the M44 does.
Oh, and there's something insanely satisfactory about looking down at your rifle and seeing a sicle and hammer on it.